Section-insulator.



W. H. KEMPTUN.

SECTION INSULATOR.

APPLlcATloN FILED Aue.19.1911.

111119111611 lMay 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SECTION INSULATOR.

APPucATloN FILED Aua.19. 1911.

1,183,073. Patented Ma ,1916.

3 SHEETS- T 2.

'W. H. KEMPTON.

SECTION INSULATOR.

APPLxcATIoN FILED Aug. 19. 191x.

1,183,073. Patent-ed May16,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

RMN

145mg @www www UNITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD H. KEMPTON, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO BRASS COM- IANY, 0F MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SECTION-INSULATOR.

Application filed August 19, 1911.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, 1WiLLARD H. KnaiP'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain lnew and useful Improvements in Section-Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a section insulator more particularly described as a section insulator for trolley wires, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class described which is simple and strong in construction, adapted to bind and holdthe end of a trolley wire firmly without breaking, and which is effective and eflicient in operation.

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, aswill appear, this invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the speciiication, but more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a section insulator constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the end castings; Fig. 4L is a perspective view of one of the wedge members; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one 0f the clamping plates; Fig. 6 is a view 'partly in section of the hanger support; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one of the end castings with a wire in clamped position; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view through the clampingmembers; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional View of the stirrup for holding the removable runner; Fig. 10 is a view of the removable runner with the Stirrups at the end; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line through the pivotal mounting of the end tip; Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the tip adjacent its end and in position about a wire. Fig. 13 is a crosssectional view of the tip near the end casting.

In a device of this class it is necessary that it be able to withstand a great tension and also that the ends of the trolleyv wires or conductors be held firmly, so that there is no danger of the conductor slipping from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial No. 644,935.

its connection. Another difficulty to overcome is that of providing a smooth approach for a trolley wheel or contactor moving along the conductor and the insulator.

l The present invention contemplates a section insulator substantially as shown and described in the drawings and described in the specification, in which these -difculties are overcome by means of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of the component parts.

eferring now more particularly to the drawings illustrating the present exemplification of the invention, an insulating member 15 is shown with slots 16 at the end thereof, which are enlarged at the inner end of the slot to form an opening 17. In this slot andopening, at each end of the insulating member a web portion 18 with an enlarged end l9`of the end casting 20 is adapt-v ed to be positioned with fastening devices such as bolts 21 extending through the insulating member 15 and the web. portion 18 to hold the end casting firmly in position.

The constructionV and preferred shape of the end castings 2O is shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The outer end of the casting has a slotted portion 22 extending from adjacent the edge thereof 'and rounded at the rear of the slot toward the upper edge of the cast-` ing, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. Projecting laterally from the casting are ears 23, preferably provided with square openings 24 which are adaptedto reeeivebolts. Adjacent the outer end are shoulders 32, and openings 25 to receive a pivot pin.' The edge 26 is preferably rounded in form and eX-v tends below the insulating member 15 when the end castings are in position with respect thereto, a shoulder 27 being also preferably formed to bear against the insulating memloery and to assist in holding the end casting in position. A wedgemember 28 is adapted to be positioned in the slot of the end castings 20 and this wedge member is'formed with a grooved edge 29 substantially the shape of the rounded portion of thegroove in the end castings and having a out away portion 30 which is adapted to grip a conductor placed between the wedge and the end casting more firmly. v This wedge member' is also formed with laterally projecting perforated ears 31 and with a grooved portion 33 extending transversely of the Wedge member. This wedge member is adapted to be positioned in the slot 22 with the rounded end extending inwardly, the openings in the ears 31 being positioned to match with the openings 24 in the ears 23.

A clamping plate 34 is shown in perspective by Fig. 5, and is provided with a groove 35, with laterally extending perforated ears 36 and a grooved portion 37 which matches with the transverse groove 33 in the wedge member 28. A tip member 38 is disposed in the slotted portion 22 of each of the end castings 20 and is attached thereto by means of a pin extending through the member and through the openings 25 in the end casting. This tip is formed with lips 39 which are adapted to embrace a trolley wire or conductor which is to be secured to the end casting and the edges of the lips are beveled or ground so that the outer end of the lips is thinnest (see Fig. l2), leaving the edge of the lips adjacent the end casting of substantially the same thickness as the portion ofthe end casting below the groove. This feature is shown more clearly in Fig. 7, it being evident that this form of lip will provide a smooth approach from the conductor over the tip and to the lower edge of the end casting. This prevents sparking and wearing of the members when, for example, the device is used as a section insulator for trolley wires.

In assembled position the wedge member 28 and the clamping plate 34 are adapted to bind the bent end of a trolley wire or a conductor firmly in the grooved portion of f the end casting. By reference now to Figs.

7 and 8 it will be seen that a conductor 40 is positioned in the slot or groove 22 of the end casting, the wedge 28 is passed over it and the end of the conductor is bent over the rounded end of the wedge member, the clamping plate 34 is placed in position over the wedge member and in contact with the conductor 40. In this position the perforations in the ears of the clamping plate, the wedge member and the end casting are in line so that bolts 41 may be inserted to bind the members firmly in place. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the wedge member may be first secured by means of the nuts 42 and the clamping plate by means of nuts 43. In this position the wedge member bears against the shoulders 32 of the end casting, so that the tension placed upon the wire or conductor causes the wedge members to bear against the shoulders and to relieve the strain upon the fastening bolts 41. It will also be noted that the disposal of the wedge members is such that when a strain or tension is placed upon the conductor 40 the rounded tip of the wedge member is thrust downwardly so that the edges of the opening 30 in the wedge member and the grooved portion thereof bear more firmly against the conductor, whereby the conductor is clamped in the end casting more securelyl in accordance with the strain placed upon the conductor. In other words, as the tension upon the conductor increases, the binding action is correspondingly increased.

The matched grooves in the wedge member 28 and the clamping member 34 are adapted to receive a transversely extending conductor 44. This conductor 44 may be secured in place after the end of the conductor 4() has been secured by the wedge member 28, or it may be omitted entirely, the clamping action being not interfered with by the presence or absence of the conductor. This, however, is the best location for a feeder conductor, as it is in close proximity to the conductor and an electrical connection is insured between the two conductors.

The rounded edges 26 of the end members 20 are substantially in alinement, spaced apart and extend below the insulating mem# ber 15, so that an additional insulating member is required to form a smooth contact guide for a conductor, such, for example as a trolley wheel in passing from.

one end casting to the other. This is provided in the present exemplification by an insulatingrunner 45, which extends between the end castings, and is removably secured in position. The runner is made removable by means of stirrup castings 46, positioned at the inner ends of the end castings, secured through the insulating member 15 by means of the bolts 47, and formed with openings 48 to receive the end of the insulating runner 45. The ends of the runner 45 are formed to fit the openings 48, so that the surface of the runner is substantially flush with the surface of the stirrup castings 46, and with the rounded edge of the end castings 20, so as to present a smooth surface for a trolley wheel and the like. In practice this runner 45 frequently becomes worn, and by making it removable, new runners may be inserted whenever desired or necessary.

To support the insulator and to hold it in position there is provided a casting 49 formed with a threaded hanger stud receiver 50, with sides 51, which extend over the sides of the insulating member 15, and with laterally projecting ears 52 to receive a span of wire or the like. This casting is secured to the insulating member 15 by means of a bolt 53, preferably threaded at both ends and adapted to receive the end eye nuts 54, to which may be fastened guy wires for securing the section insulator in place.

Thetip 38 is attached to the end member forthe purpose of preventing the wire from bending at the point where it leaves the end member and thus causing crystallization of the wire. The tip prevents any material movement or bending of the wire at this point, but due to its reducing section toward the outer end it permits a slight flexibility of the wire and tip which absorbs the shocks and prevents crystallization. The tip is made removable in order that it can be replaced when worn, and also that it may be made of different metal than the end member, if desired.

It is evident that various changes may be made in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Y

That I claim is:

1. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the combination with an insulating member, of end castings rigidly secured thereto, having a grooved portion therein rounding upwardly and inwardly from the bottom, a wedge member positioned in the groove, the end of a wire being inserted in the groove beneath the wedge and bent thereby and the end rounded over the wedge, a clamping plate positioned over the wedge, and means to clamp the plate, wedge and casting against the wire.

2. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the combination with an insulating member, of end castings rigidly secured thereto, each having a grooved portion therein rounding upwardly and inwardly fronrthe bottom, a wedge member positioned inY they groove, the end of a wire being inserted in the groove beneath the wedge and the endrounded over the wedge, a clamping plate positioned over the wedge, the said plate and Wedge being formed with matching grooves to receive a transversely disposed wire conductor, and means to clamp the wire and said conductor between the plate and the wedge, and to clamp the wire between the wedge and said casting.

3. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the combination with an insulating member, of end castings rigidly secured thereto each having an upwardly and inwardly rounding groove in the outer end with shoulders adjacent the extremity and at the top, a wedge member positioned in the groove and adapted to bear against the shoulders, the wedge having a groove in the upper surface thereof, the end of a trolley wire being disposed in the groove and bent over the wedge, a

clamping plate adapted to be placed overY the wire and the wedge and having a groove to receive a feeder conductor, and means to bind the feeder and the trolley wire in connection with Vthe clamp, wedge, and the end casting, and to hold the wedge member against the said shoulders.

4. In a. section insulator for trolley wires the combination with an insulating member, of end castings rigidly secured thereto each having an upwardly and inwardly rounding groove in the outer end thereof and laterally projecting perforated ears, a wedge member disposed in the groove, the end of a wire being bent over the inner end of the wedge, a clamping plate adapted to be placed over the wire and the Wedge, the said plate and the wedge being formed with perforated ears disposed near to the outer end of the members, and bolts extending through the said ears to bind the wire between the plate, wedge and the casting, the position ofthe ears on the wedge being such that when tension is exerted upon the Wire, the inner end of the wedge will be drawn down-y wardly to bind the wire more securely, in accordance with the tension.

5. In a sectionninsulator, the combination with an insulating member slotted at the ends and having enlarged openings at the inner ends of the slots, of end castings each having a web portion withan enlarged end adapted to be inserted in a slot and opening of the insulating member,means to secure the casting in the insulating member, and means to bind the end of a wire in the outer end of the casting. l Y

6. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the combination with an insulating member, of end castings secured thereto and each provided with a groove terminating at its end adjacent the lower edge thereof, a grooved tip pivotally mounted in the end casting, the grooved portion being on the lower edge and alined with the groove in the lower edge of the end casting, and means to wedge the bent end of a trolley wire in the end casting.

7. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the combination with an insulating member, of end castings secured thereto and each provided with a groove terminating at its end adjacent the lower edge thereof, a grooved tip pivotally mounted in theend of the casting, the tip abutting said lower edge of the casting, the said tip being formed with lips thinnest at the outer edge and substantially bendable about a wire the thickness of the lower edge of the said casting at the end adjacent the casting, whereby a smooth approach is made over the tip to the casting, the groove of the tip and of the casting being in alinement, and means to bind the trolley wire in the end casting. i

S. In a section insulator for trolley wires, the lcombination with end castings having depending round ribs and means for securing wires thereto, of an insulating member for holding the casting spaced apart and the said ribs in alinement, removable stirrups secured to the insulating member at the inner ends of the said castings and conforming at the bottom to the said ribs thereof, and an independent insulating runner having ends adapted to be seated in said stirrups With an underrunning surface eX- tending in alinement with said ribs and said stirrups between the stirrups.

9. The combination of a trolley Wire support and ieXible tips therefor pivoted at the ends, each provided Withlips bendable about the Wire from the top and tapering in thickness and Width from the inner to the outer end so that at the inner end the lips meet but are gradually separated toward the outer end so that the under surface of the lips gradually merge With the under surface of the Wire.

10. The combination With a trolley Wire support having an upwardly opening slot and means to bind a Wire in the slot, the underside of the slotted support forming a trolley wheel under-run surface, of a tip pivoted in the slot having lips graduated in thickness and Width from the inner to they under-run surface with a flexible approach' at each end of the support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 16th dayy of August A. D. 1911.

WV. H. KEMPTON. Vitnesses:

J. C. PAINTER, C. MARKS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ii've cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C. 

